Sliding protection door for covering one or both of a pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors

• US 5,701,232 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallatin, David M., Baik, David J., Tang, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/705,485
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/135, 439/136, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/350, 49/449, 49/450, 220/253, 220/242, 220/345, 220/346, 220/349, 361/616, 361/617, 361/641, 361/642, 361/679, 361/683, 361/684, 361/686, 361/724, 174/67
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof

Abstract

An apparatus in a hand-held computing device for providing non-simultaneous user access to a pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors is disclosed. The present invention includes a slidable door having three operative positions. In its closed position, the door is adapted to cover the pair of the mutually exclusive electrical connectors to prevent user access. The door can be guided to stop at a first open position where a first electrical connector of the pair is exposed for user access and the other connector remains covered. The door can also be guided to stop at a second open position where the other connector is exposed whereas the first connector is covered up. One aspect of the invention includes detents associated with the three door positions for user feedback.

Claims

1. A protection assembly adapted for allowing non-simultaneous user access to a pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors which are disposed inside an opening of a housing of a computing device, said protection assembly comprising:

a door slidably mounted relative to the housing of the computing device, said door, in a closed position, being operatively adapted to cover the opening for preventing user access to the pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors;

guiding means fastened to the housing for providing a path for guiding the sliding movement of the door;

a wall fastened to the housing and adapted for limiting the door to move in a sliding manner; and

a door stop fastened to the housing of the computing device and so configured for the door to slidably stop in a first open position where the door exposes a first electrical connector of the mutually exclusive pair and covers up a second connector of the pair, said door stop being further configured for the door to slidably stop in a second open position where the door exposes the second electrical connector and covers up the first electrical connector to prevent user access.

2. The protection assembly of claim 1 wherein said door stop further includes detents positioned and adapted for the closed position, the first open position and the second open position for user feedback.

3. The protection assembly of claim 1 further includes a surface on the exterior side of the door having a color and a finish similar to the housing of the computing device;

said surface further including an area having a contour being different from the rest of the surface and being easy for a user'"'"'s finger to slide the door.

4. A computing device having a protection assembly adapted for allowing non-simultaneous user access to a pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors which are disposed inside an opening of a housing of said computing device, said protection assembly comprising:

a door slidably mounted relative to the housing of the computing device, said door, in a closed position, being operatively adapted to cover the opening for preventing user access to the pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors;

said door having a surface on the exterior side of the door having a color and a finish similar to the housing of the computing device;

said surface further including an area having a contour being different from the rest of the surface and being easy for a user'"'"'s finger to slide the door;

guiding means fastened to the housing for providing a path for guiding the sliding movement of the door;

a wall fastened to the housing and adapted for limiting the door to move in a sliding manner; and

a door stop fastened to the housing of the computing device and so configured for the door to slidably stop in a first open position where the door exposes a first electrical connector of the mutually exclusive pair and covers up a second connector of the pair, said door stop being configured for the door to slidably stop in a second open position where the door exposes the second electrical connector and covers up the first electrical connector to prevent user access, said door stop further including detents positioned and adapted for the closed position, the first open position and the second open position for user feedback.